Finding the ideal Canadiens lineup spot for top prospect Hayes

The Montreal Canadiens are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, and they could be getting a very interesting reinforcement in the form of NCAA star Michael Hayes.

The 19-year-old Hayes enjoyed a stellar sophomore season with the University of Michigan, scoring 13 goals and 39 assists in 39 games. He finished the season with 52 points, more than Gavin McKenna (Penn State), Porter Martone (50 points, Michigan State) and James Hagens (47 points, Boston College).

But for Hayes it’s not just a matter of production.

His playing style is the epitome of dynamic hockey.

He executes his plays at full speed, combining elite playmaking with high-level vision. This is the driving force behind Hayes’ No. 1 ranking among Montreal Canadiens prospects, as voted on by Habs fans.

In that way, despite the fact that he has only spent two seasons in the NCAA, and has yet to play a single game of professional hockey, you can argue that Hayes is one of the team’s most NHL-ready prospects.

“Michigan lost, the Michael Hayes clock is on,” Elliotte Friedman explained on his latest 32 Thoughts podcast. “We’ll see where it goes in the next few days.”

michael hayes status

We can expect Hayes to sign a contract in the near future, although the nature of said contract may vary. As established by Nicolas Cloutier, the contract will not necessarily last in the NHL, even though this is the most likely scenario. There is a possibility that Hayes and the Canadiens will want to test the waters in the AHL through an amateur tryout before signing an NHL deal.

However, in all likelihood Hayes will want to waste a year of his entry-level contract by signing in the NHL, which will lead to some important decisions in Montreal’s lineup.

Hayes is currently dealing with an injury that caused him to miss a few playoff games for the University of Michigan, so rushing out a contract signing is not a priority when it comes to signing, but once he is ready to play, head coach Martin St-Louis will need to establish the ideal usage for the talented prospect.

It’s a situation that’s complicated by the team’s injuries, or lack thereof.

The Habs are a remarkably healthy team at the moment, a rare occurrence for an organization known for overstocking hospitals.

On the flip side of the coin, just because a player is given the green light to play in the NHL doesn’t mean they aren’t going to struggle with minor issues. Many, if not most, NHL players have persistent health issues that are not serious enough to keep them out of the lineup.

With that in mind, the Canadiens may be able to rest some of their players in the final stretch of the season. Of course, the fact that first place in the Atlantic Division is still up for grabs may influence Montreal’s roster decisions, but I digress.

Montreal Canadiens Forward Situation

The only forward who is still on the mend is Patrik Laine, leaving 14 healthy players fighting for 12 spots. That number will increase to 15 if Hayes signs a contract, allowing at least three forwards to see games in the press box as healthy scratches.

It’s also important to remember that Hayes is expected to eventually become one of the top-six players for the Canadiens, meaning the ideal usage would involve filling that role as early as possible. Hopefully, the days of forcing an extremely talented young player to be on the fourth line in a role unsuitable for his skill set are over.

Given that there is little chance that Saint-Louis will want to disrupt his elite first line (again), the second line signals for the hedge.

And yet, given that the only two relatively permanent players on the second line are also first-year players (Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen), there is some logic in suggesting that running a trio with three rookies could spell trouble.

But if there’s one coach in the NHL who will give the experiment a legitimate shot, it’s definitely St.-Louis.

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Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

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Former WWE and NXT star issues public plea for help finding missing brother

Former WWE Superstar Shotzi Blackheart has reached out to the public for help locating his missing brother, Dino. The former main roster and NXT star took to social media to share a distressing update regarding his sibling’s whereabouts in the San Francisco area.

According to the post, Dino’s vehicle was found crashed near Fort Mason and the Marina district, but he has not been seen since driving away from the scene. The situation is especially serious because Shotzi said her brother is currently undergoing dialysis treatment and may be confused or disoriented.

Security footage from the area confirmed that Dino exited the vehicle after the collision, but his current location and physical condition remain unknown. Shotzi said he is “not himself” due to his ongoing medical needs, increasing the family’s concern for his immediate safety.

“My brother Dino is missing. His car was found crashed near Fort Mason/Marina District – San Francisco, and security footage shows him later walking away from the vehicle. He may be confused or disoriented. He is currently undergoing dialysis and is not himself, so we are very concerned for his safety,” Shotzi shared.

The family is requesting that anyone in the San Francisco area with information regarding Dino’s whereabouts contact authorities immediately. Specifically, the post directs individuals to reach Detective Smith at 415-561-5146. Shotzi encouraged his followers and the wrestling community to share the information widely to increase the chances of safe recovery.

Since the post was published, members of the wrestling world from WWE, AEW and the independent circuit have rallied to support Shotzi by sharing his message. Following her departure from WWE, she has worked for several different promotions, including finding success as a member of the MLW roster and being one of the top acts in their women’s division.


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Tyler Herro reveals how he’s ‘finding his rhythm’ after comeback as Heat battle to avoid play-ins

The Miami Heat are attempting to avoid making the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Tyler Herro’s ability to return to form will be key in that effort.

After a long absence due to ankle surgery and a toe injury earlier this season, Herro recently returned from a month-long absence due to a rib ailment. He had another efficient performance during Tuesday’s 124-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets, posting 22 points on 8-15 shooting in 28 minutes.

“I’m just trying to find my rhythm,” Herro said after the game. “I’ve only played less than 20 games. And every other team and player has been in rhythm and playing since October. I haven’t really played a lot of five-on-five games since last season. So it’s just steps in the right direction, continuing to see where my shots are coming from. It’s not all about scoring. It’s about making the right plays.”

Herro has averaged 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists on .484/.371/.941 shooting splits in six appearances since returning to Miami’s lineup.

Tyler Herro back in action as Heat battles to avoid play-in tournament

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) reacts after a shot in the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
Brett Davis-Imagen Images

The Heat are 4-2 during that span, leaving them a half-game behind the Eastern Conference sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

Erik Spoelstra said of Herro, “I think he’s making this all look easier than it really is.” “He hasn’t played in a long time. It’s been a really short time since he’s been back. But I think it’s going to get better each game. I trust Tyler and his work. He puts in so much time. But he adds a lot to our offense. Now we’ve got this element of creativity. Definitely making shots. You don’t know where it’s going to come from. And then once he gets you into his three-ball rhythm, I think it’s “Will really help impact our offense at another level.”

The Heat have faced problems taking care of business despite inferior competition this season. However, they dominated on Tuesday by tanking nets from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

Spoelstra’s squad shot 45 of 91 (49.5 percent) from the field with 28 assists and 12 turnovers. Meanwhile, they held Brooklyn to 33 of 86 (38.4 percent) from the field and 6 of three (18.8 percent) from three, while forcing 18 turnovers.

Miami, Philadelphia and the Orlando Magic are separated by a half-game for the East’s sixth to eighth seeds.

Bam Adebayo said, “It’s the second half of the season. We need these wins. We can’t afford to miss any more.” “We had enough during the first half of the season. You have to hold yourself to a higher standard of accountability, and it gets uncomfortable sometimes because you know you feel like you don’t want to go too far. Uh, but you know in that sense man we are us, we’re past that stage and you know we’re trying to do something special. Uh, and it’s going to take all of us and we have to hold each other accountable and Uh have to face some intense situations.”


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Jason Kidd praises former top draft pick finding his way with Dallas after surprise trade

Marvin Bagley’s idea came up in the discourse surrounding the Dallas Mavericks’ trade return for Anthony Davis. However, the former No. 2 pick has impressed the Mavericks during his first game since the blockbuster deal.

Bagley had his most efficient performance of the season during Tuesday’s 123-124 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The 6-foot-10 big man posted a team-high 22 points and five rebounds on 10 of 13 shooting in 20 minutes off the bench.

Jason Kidd said of Bagley’s performance, “He’s a really good player.” Talking to him revealed that he has grown up and understands the NBA game a little. Sometimes it takes time. We all want it to happen overnight. But I think the coaching staff, the media, everybody that’s been on this road trip with him has made him comfortable, and you can see how he’s playing. If it’s not in the post, it’s an offensive rebound, and then playing defense for us. So everyone’s confidence is high, and he’s brand new, and it just shows how talented he is.”

Bagley has not been able to find a home in the NBA since being selected No. 2 by the Sacramento Kings in 2018, ahead of Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young.

Mavericks’ Bagley makes headlines during first game with Mavs after Anthony Davis trade

Brooklyn Nets center Nick Claxton (33) tries to beat Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III (35) in the first quarter at Barclays Center.
Wendell Cruz-Imagen Images

The former Duke star changed teams six times during his eight-year NBA career. After spending his first three seasons with the Kings, he saw stints with the Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards before landing in Dallas at this year’s trade deadline.

While Bagley has had a disappointing career, he is making the most of his new opportunity with the rebuilding Mavericks. With Derek Lively sidelined, the 26-year-old is averaging 13.0 points and 8.2 rebounds on 64.3 percent shooting in five appearances with the team.

“Just keep building,” Bagley said of his mindset after Tuesday’s win. “It’s just continuing to learn each other, at least for me and the new guys. Just continuing to gel with the guys that are here, learning the system, and just doing my best every day and giving it my all. That’s my mentality, and it seems like everyone else here has the same mentality. I love being a part of it, and I’m glad I have teammates like that.”

Bagley’s minimum contract is expiring and he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.


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